ANSONIA — Hello, Ansonia residents!
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. 2021!
The Valley Indy, through local political party leaders, asked all candidates running for office in Ansonia to respond to participate in a voters’ guide — the first of its kind for this publication.
Candidates for the Ansonia Board of Aldermen were invited to a series of video interviews. All other Ansonia candidates were asked to fill out a quick and easy Q&A.
In a letter, all Republican candidates for the Board of Aldermen declined to participate in video interviews.
The Valley Indy did not receive written answers from other GOP candidates for office, with the exception of incumbent Town-City Clerk Beth Lynch, who was cross-endorsed.
To learn more about the GOP slate, go to Facebook.
The Valley Indy was unable to schedule video interviews with some Democrats running for Aldermen (none declined, but some could not make the assigned Valley Indy time and date, one candidate replied after the interviews had been scheduled, one candidate missed the interview and apologized). To learn more about those candidates, click here for the Democratic Town Committee’s Facebook page.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Click here to double check your polling place.
Click here for an Ansonia sample ballot.
Click here for information from the secretary of state on everything from absentee ballots to Election Day registration information.
MAYOR
David Cassetti
Republican incumbent running for his fifth, two-year term.
Click here for a Valley Indy story on his latest nominating convention.
Mayor Cassetti is running unopposed this year.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
FIRST WARD
Democrats
John Feddern
Gary Farrar Jr.
CLICK HERE for a video interview with Farrar and Feddern.
Republicans
Charles Stowe (incumbent)
Dan King (incumbent)
SECOND WARD
Democrats
William Phipps (incumbent)
CLICK HERE for a video interview with Phipps.
Republicans
Steve Adamowski
Bobbi Tar (incumbent)
THIRD WARD
Democrats
Joseph Jeanette Jr. (incumbent)
Republicans
Joseph Cassetti (incumbent)
FOURTH WARD
Democrats
Diane Stroman (incumbent)
Rohan Brown
CLICK HERE for a video interview with Stroman.
Republicans
Robert J. Knott, III
Anthony Spigarolo (incumbent)
FIFTH WARD
Democrats
Brian Perkins
David M. Rhodes
CLICK HERE for a video interview with Perkins and Rhodes.
Republicans
Joseph Jaumann (incumbent)
Chicago Rivers (incumbent)
SIXTH WARD
Democrats
Johnathan Vining
Chris Grizzle
CLICK HERE for a video interview with Vining.
Republicans
Josh Shuart (incumbent)
Tony Mammone (incumbent)
SEVENTH WARD
Democrats
Len Duffus
Steven Erlinheuser
Republicans
David Blackwell Jr. (incumbent)
Frank DeLibero, Jr. (incumbent)
TOWN & CITY CLERK
Beth Shortell Lynch
Nominated by both the Ansonia Town Democratic Committee and the Ansonia Town Republican Committee
Currently the Ansonia Town/City Clerk
Years lived in town/city:
69
Profession:
25 plus years in municipal government
Prior elected office title and years served:
Ansonia Town and City Clerk, 2013 – 2015
Local community or civic engagement:
Ansonia Democratic Town Committee, Lifetime member of Church of the Assumption, Connecticut Certified Town Clerk
Political party affiliation:
Democrat
Political party line on the ballot
Democrat and Republican (cross-endorsed)
Why are you running for office and what do you hope to accomplish?
“The City of Ansonia has been my family’s home for six generations and I feel a deep commitment to do my part to maintain the integrity and preservation of the history of Ansonia.
Age:
69
Family:
Husband, Tom, three adult sons, Dan, Tim and Patrick, seven grandchildren
TOWN & CITY TREASURER
Kianna DeCiucis
Political party affiliation: Democrat
Years lived in town/city:
26
Profession:
Counselor at Silver Hill Hospital
Prior elected office title and years served:
First-time candidate
Local community or civic engagement:
I have volunteered with food drives in town as well as with the Ansonia Police Department for their annual Thanksgiving and Toys for Tots Drive. I also assisted the current administration in their push to get residents vaccinated by participating in a door-knocking day meant to inform the residents of vaccination sites and the benefits to being vaccinated.
Why are you running for office and what do you hope to accomplish?
“My goal in running for office is to be able to help people to the best of my ability. I have been a resident of Ansonia my entire life and I have seen many different administrations. I would like to be a part of Ansonia in a capacity that I could impact the decisions and hopefully encourage more voices and perspectives to be heard.”
Age:
26
Judy Larkin Nicolari
Judy Larkin Nicolari is the current incumbent treasurer seeking re-election on the Republican line.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Tracey DeLibero
Tracey DeLibero is an incumbent member of the Ansonia Board of Education seeking re-election on the Republican line.
David A. Knapp
Seeking office:
Ansonia Board of Education
Political Party:
Democrat
Years in lived in city:
Entire life, 67 years
Profession:
Real Estate Broker
Prior elected office & years:
Served on Board of Aldermen for 12 years
Local Community civic engagement:
Chairman Board of Directors for TEAM, Inc ‑5yrs, Board of Directors for Ansonia Housing Authority for 5 years and served as soccer, basketball & softball as coach for 3 – 4 years and served on PTO at Mead School & Sacred Heart Academy & Notre Dame-WH
Why are you running and what do you hope to accomplish?
“To provide the children of Ansonia the best education possible.”
Age:
67
Family:
Spouse Sharon RN @ Griffin Hospital
Son- David F.- Attorney
Daughter: Jessica L. – APRN
Grandson: Charles J. Knapp – 5 months
Elizabeth LaBerge
Elizabeth LaBerge is a running for the Ansonia Board of Education on the Republican line.
Lauren Todd
Seeking office:
Board of Education
Political party affiliation:
Democrat
Years lived in town/city:
30 years (whole life)
Profession:
Professor of Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
Prior elected office title and years served:
First-time candidate
Why are you running for office and what do you hope to accomplish?
“I am running for a Board of Education position because I have been a lifelong resident of Ansonia and a product of the Ansonia public school system. As an educator now myself through the University of Connecticut, it is important to me to see that students are receiving an accurate and inclusive curriculum. I hope that marginalized and oppressed students can see their histories and literatures reflected in their learning as well as receiving relevant support in and out of the classroom. Educational equity is an issue throughout our state and I want students of color, LGBTQ+ students, as well as students with disabilities to have all the support and advocacy they need while they are at our schools, too.”
Age:
30
Family:
Martina “Mick” Powell Todd (wife)
CITY SHERIFFS
Democrat
Joseph Jeanette Jr.
Sean P. Rowley
Republican
Dan King
Bobbi Tar
Crystal Jaumann
